Aviation safety investigations & reports

In-­flight engine shut down - VH-­NTQ, Beagle Bay WA, 14 January 2010

Summary

On 14 January 2010, a Cessna Aircraft Co. 208B Caravan,
registered VH-NTQ, was en-route from Broome to Koolan Island,
Western Australia (WA) at an altitude of about 9,500 ft, when the
pilot noticed a drop in the engine torque indication, with a
corresponding drop in the engine oil pressure indication. The pilot
diverted to the nearest airstrip, which was Beagle Bay, WA. The
pilot shut the engine down when the low oil pressure warning light
illuminated and conducted a landing at Beagle Bay airstrip. The
aircraft overran the airstrip, coming to rest upside down after
impacting a mound of dirt. The aircraft was seriously damaged. The
pilot, who was the only occupant, sustained minor injuries.

Following the accident, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
(CASA) issued an airworthiness bulletin, AWB 72-004 Issue 1, on 8
February 2010 to all Cessna 208 aircraft operators in Australia.
The bulletin highlighted previous service difficulty reports on
similar failures and the possibility of the accident aircraft
having experienced the same problem. The bulletin recommended the
inspection of the engine oil transfer tube attachment lugs for
cracks and the inspection of the engine vibration isolator mounts
for correct installation. Any defects in the area of the vibration
mounts and oil tubes were to be reported to CASA post inspection.
At the time of writing this report, one case of an oil tube with a
loose fit and wear had been reported.